Short preceding birth intervals increase the risk of mortality for infants. If a preceding sibling dies, the chance of death for the next born child of the same mother becomes higher due to shorter birth intervals caused by earlier conception or intentional replacement of the deceased child.
Shorter Birth Intervals
When a child dies, the mother may conceive again sooner in an attempt to replace the deceased child. This can lead to shorter intervals between births, which are associated with increased risk of mortality for the next-born infant. The death of a child can also prompt the mother to intentionally have another child more quickly, further reducing the time between births.